CBS's "The Amazing Race" drew 11.83 million viewers at 9 p.m., just topping the 11.81 million who watched NBC's "Fear Factor," according to Nielsen Media Research figures. An hour earlier, a special Wednesday edition of CBS's "Big Brother 2" was watched by 11 million viewers while NBC's "Lost" had an audience of 9.4 million.

With NBC airing the final episode of summer hit "Fear Factor" against the previously scheduled "The Amazing Race," CBS retaliated by putting "Big Brother 2," with guest appearances from former cast members of "Survivor," up against the "Lost" debut.

The night's highest rating went to a news magazine, ABC's "20/20," which featured Barbara Walters' interview with actress Anne Heche. In its season premiere in its new 10 p.m. Wednesday time slot, the program drew 13.3 million viewers.

"The Amazing Race" sends 11 teams on a worldwide contest with a $1 million prize. "Lost" awards $200,000 to the first of three pairs of teammates to reach the Statue of Liberty.

For CBS, "The Amazing Race" drew 2.12 million more viewers compared to the time slot last year and increased 18- to 49-year-old viewership by 79 percent. CBS will rebroadcast the "Amazing Race" premiere tomorrow at 8 p.m.

(Lynn Elber, Associated Press)

VCR alert

If you're planning to tape HBO's "Band of Brothers" miniseries, which premieres tomorrow at 9 p.m. with two back-to-back episodes, be advised that some episodes run a little longer than an hour. If you're setting your VCR, plan to let it record for at least 15 extra minutes.

As expected, with Larry Richert's move to KDKA-AM, Jeff Verszyla is now the primary weathercaster for KDKA-TV, effective immediately. Richert's last TV weathercast was Wednesday, but he may show up occasionally on KDKA-TV, according to a station press release.

Verszyla will offer forecasts on KDKA at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. and at 10 p.m. on WNPA.

(R.O.)

Local Emmy nominees

Two former Pittsburghers are up for Emmy awards.

Mt. Lebanon native Richard Gray is up for an award for outstanding sound mixing for a nonfiction program for VH1's "Behind the Music: John Lennon: The Last Years."

Greg Nicotero is up for an Emmy for special visual effects in a miniseries, movie or special, for Part 1 of Sci Fi Channel's "Dune" miniseries that aired last December.

Creative Arts Emmys will be given out tomorrow (6 p.m., E!), while the awards for program, actor, actress, etc., will be given out Sept. 16 in a telecast on CBS.